The Beautiful Orange Flower You'll Find All Across California

When people think of California, they may simply imagine beaches and amusement parks, but the state has far more to offer than that. California is famous for its spring wildflower blooms, and one of the most beautiful wildflowers you can find is the state flower: The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). If you want to see them in the wild, their native range includes the west coast of the United States and Mexico, where they often appear in spectacular quantities during spring, but they are also now found growing in many other parts of the United States. These stunning orange flowers are a treat to spot in the wild, but can also be easily grown in your home garden.

In zones 8 through 10, California poppies are perennials, but they also make excellent garden annuals in zones with harsher winters. They're generally considered cool season flowers but can continue blooming through summer in some areas. Because they're relatively drought tolerant, they're a great option for anyone who wants to keep growing stunning flowers while also participating in the xeriscaping garden trend. While California poppies are known for their bold orange color, yellow and red cultivars are also available. 

California poppies are generally purchased as seeds and can be sown into your garden in autumn or early spring. While they can also be started inside, this can be challenging as they aren't known for transplanting well. They, like most poppies, grow best from seed when they are directly sown. 

California poppies require full sun to grow well, but are not overly picky about their soil as long as it is well-draining and not acidic. As they're quite tolerant of poor soil, there's no need to worry about adding a lot of fertilizer or soil amendments. The poppies do benefit from occasional watering during dry periods, though they are relatively drought tolerant. Even in areas where they are annuals, you may notice them pop up again each year, as they easily self-seed. As they only grow a foot or two tall, they could be perfect for planting towards the front of borders and garden beds for that extra pop of color.  

People aren't the only ones who love California poppies. They're also fantastic pollinator plants and attract everything from butterflies to native bees. If you've been meaning to start a pollinator garden, these happy orange wildflowers could be a perfect fit.